Minnesota Golf Course

Make memories this spring in Minnesota. Whether traveling through the North Star State on a family road trip, or just heading up north to catch the last bit of winter recreation before it heats up, your choice in Minnesota is a correct one. Head to the Chester Bowl Ski Area in Duluth before the snow melts in northeastern Minnesota, or get a picture of the famed Ear of Corn water tower in Rochester. Don’t forget the Twin Cities, where you can explore the attractions of Minneapolis and St. Paul, plus the many suburbs like Shakopee, Eagan and Bloomington – home to the Mall of America. A Minnesota spring getaway is just what you need.

Set in the southeastern part of the state, Rochester is the third largest city in Minnesota and home to some great outdoor recreation. Now that spring is setting in, you can gear up and bike your way through town, as Rochester incorporates 85 miles of paved pathway for biking, jogging, or just taking out the family dog. For a real spring treat, head to the Quarry Hill Nature Center from early March until April, for the 2012 Twilight of the Triceratops exhibit. For more fascinating exhibits in Rochester, check out the Rochester Art Center for exhibitions like “Tetsuya Yamada: Commuter” and “Barbara Claussen: Seven and One Half” – both showcased until April 22nd.

Meanwhile, in northern Minnesota, Duluth is a scenic port city hosting some incredible activities. Set right on Lake Superior, the Glensheen Historic Estate is open for tours throughout the year, while the Aerial Lift Bridge is a stunning sight come nightfall - so keep that camera ready. Spend a day at the Great Lakes Aquarium – a three-story staple of Duluth home to permanent exhibits like Otter Cove and Amazing Amazon.

Over 100 species are housed in the Great Lakes Aquarium, but be sure to leave room for the Lake Superior Zoo. Found in Fairmount Park, the zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until the 2012 Memorial Day Weekend and offers free parking. Check out upcoming spring events at the Lake Superior Zoo, including the Earth Hour Event in late March, the Easter EGG-stravaganza, and the Mother's Day & Teddy Bear Clinic in early May.

Spring in the Twin Cities is a journey all on its own. The Valleyfair! Amusement Park opens for business come May in Shakopee, while the sun is also shining down in Eagan at Cascade Bay. Enjoy some spring shopping at the massive Mall of America in Bloomington, or check out big city attractions like the Walker Art Center in nearby Minneapolis and the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. Don’t sell yourself short on your spring getaway, and be sure to take all Minnesota has to offer.

Downtown Minneapolis

It’s spring in the Twin Cities. A famed collection of history, culture and outdoor recreation, the Twin Cities incorporate the cultural mecca of Minneapolis, and the colossal capital city of St. Paul. Visitors may sneak in the last of winter recreation before the spring sets in, or look forward to a Minnesota road trip with the family once the weather warms up. Once you’re done spring-cleaning, fill up some of that cleared space with a few purchases from the famed Mall of America, or catch a basketball game with NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. Malls, museums, and more sports than you can handle – that’s spring in the Twin Cities.

Make your way to the City of Lakes, for some round-ball at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. Become a part of Wolves Nation and cheer on the Timberwolves in March for a game with the L.A. Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Hit the court in April for games with the Phoenix Suns and the Oklahoma City Thunder, and don’t forget that Minnesota Timberwolves t-shirt from the team store.

Other attractions await in Minneapolis, like the World's Largest Spoon and Cherry at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. The garden neighbors the Walker Art Center – one of the famed big five modern art museums. This spring, check out Walker Art Center exhibitions like “Dance Works I: Merce Cunningham/Robert Rauschenberg“ until April 8th and “Frank Gaard: Poison & Candy” until May 6th. For more museums and historic sites in the Twin Cities, head east to St. Paul.

The capital of Minnesota, St. Paul features amazing kid’s activities for your spring visit to Capital City. Get in a hockey game with NHL’s Minnesota Wild at the Xcel Energy Center, or let the little ones check out a real train station at the Minnehaha Depot. For a real treat, spend the day at the Science Museum of Minnesota and let the kids explore permanent exhibits like the Dinosaurs and Fossils Gallery, the Human Body Gallery, or Big Back Yard – an outdoor earth-science exhibit featuring the Science House. Stroll through the Mississippi River Visitor Center – the Science Museum of Minnesota sits on a bluff overlooking the Mighty Mississippi – and grab lunch at the Elements Café with the family.

No vacation is complete without a little shopping. But we’re not heading to a swap meet or farmers market here – we’re heading to the Mall of America in Bloomington. Set just south of the Twin Cities, MOA features not only 2,500,000 square feet of retail space, but kid-friendly attractions like the on-site Nickelodeon Universe and SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium. Browse through anchor stores like Bloomingdale's and Nordstrom, see some sharks, and spend some time with SpongeBob this spring in the Twin Cities.